Explanation
The Columbus City Attorney’s Office entered into a contract with Alban & Alban LLP for title services on March 1, 2025, for up to $40,000.00. This legislation authorizes the City Attorney to modify the maximum obligation amount, and to declare an emergency in order to ensure the Property Action Team has continued title services that are necessary for nuisance abatement litigation.
BACKGROUND: The Columbus City Attorney’s Office has a contract with Alban & Alban LLP from March 1, 2025 to February 28, 2026 that requires a modification to add additional funds. A modification of the existing contract is necessary to ensure continued title services that are necessary for nuisance abatement litigation.
FISCAL IMPACT: The amount of the contract modification is $40,000.00, and the total amount of this contract, as modified, is $80,000.00. This contract modification will be funded by the Environmental Fund.
Emergency designation, A statement providing the basis for the request to Council that the legislation be passed as an emergency measure. See Section 1.6 I
Original contract amount $40,000.00 (PO496557)
(current balance of contract PO: $645.00)
Modification No. 1 amount $40,000.00 (This Ordinance)
Total contract amount $80,000.00
COMPANY: Alban & Alban LLP, FID: 31-1315799, CC-005040, expires 05/01/2026
Title
To authorize the City Attorney to modify an existing contract with Alban & Alban LLP to add additional funding; to authorize the expenditure of $40,000.00 from the Environmental Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($40,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, on March 1, 2025, the City Attorney’s Office entered into a contract with Alban & Alban LLP in an amount not to exceed $40,000.00 to provide title services for our Property Action Team; and
WHEREAS, the number of nuisance abatement cases filed, and complexity of each case, determines the cost of title services; and
WHEREAS, the number of nuisance abatement cases filed, and complexity of each case, fluctuates from year to year; and
WHEREAS, the number of nuisance abatement cases filed under the existing contract, and the complexity of these cases, has exceeded initial estimates; and
WHEREAS, nuisance abatement cases have a significant impact on community safety; and
WHEREAS, failure to modify the existing contract and award through other procurement processes would cause undue delay in filing nuisance abatement cases; and
WHEREAS, the price for title services will remain the same as under the existing contract; and
WHEREAS, City Attorney has identified the need to modify an existing contract with Alban & Alban LLP, for title services in an amount up to $80,000.00; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operations of the Columbus City Attorney’s Office to authorize the City Auditor to appropriate and expend these funds; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City Attorney’s Office in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the City Attorney to modify the existing contract with Alban & Alban LLP, to add additional funds to ensure continued title services that are necessary for nuisance abatement litigation, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; and NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Attorney be and is hereby authorized to modify an existing contract with Alban & Alban LLP to add additional funding, in the amount of $40,000.00, bringing the contract total to $80,000.00.
SECTION 2. That for the purposes stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $40,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary, be and is hereby authorized in Fund 2297 (Environmental Fund), 24-2401 (City Attorney), in object class 03 (Purchased services) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 4. That this modification is made in accordance with the relevant provisions of the City Codes Chapter 329 relating to contract modifications.
SECTION 5. That the City Auditor is authorized to establish such accounting codes as necessary, to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all agreements, contracts, or modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure because insufficient funds remain under the current contract and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.